Henriette, the King’s daughter, and Henri, a young swine man, fall deeply in love with one another. Caught by her mother, the princess will be forced into marrying the “neighboring King”, who is as big as he is old. Thus, she is thrown into a Kingdom which severity is equaled only by its stupidity, where a ludicrous protocol is followed to prepare her wedding day. Despite there being a roaring chamberlain and a tyrannical governess, can this unfair wedding be avoided?
Will love have the final say?
Written in 1993, this is Schwartz’s first play for adults and, interestingly, he draws his inspiration from three of Andersen’s tales.
This work was prohibited even before it was created, as Schwartz had made tyranny, arbitrary and oppression his creative drive.
This story sealed the desire of creation shared by two Belgian companies: Gaspar Leclère, Artistic Director of Les Baladins de Miroir, entrusted the stage direction to Guy Theunissen, the Artistic Co-Director of La Maison Ephémère. Guy Theunissen set this story in the modern world. While the context is not altered, the audience will recognize present day leaders, as well as the folly and vulgarity that characterize the powerful in the present day.
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"The Naked King"
From Evguéni Schwartz
Translated by André Markowicz (Éditions Les Solitaires Intempestifs)
Director : Guy Theunissen
Assistant director : Aurélie Trivillin, Tiphaine Van Der Haegen
Artistique Director : Les Baladins du Miroir : Gaspar Leclère
Music : Line Adam
Songs : Guy Theunissen
Light : Laurent Kaye
Scenography : Michel Suppes
Manufacture of decorations : Michel Suppes with Xavier Decoux,
Ananda Murinni, Adrien Dotremont et Antoine Van Rolleghem
Chorégraphie : Sylvie Planche
Costumes : Françoise Van Thienen et Marie Nils with Margaux Vandervelden,
Sylvie Van Loo, Aline Deheyn et Annick Leroy
Make up : Djennifer Merdjan
Sound manager : Antoine Van Rolleghem
Light manager : Ananda Murinni
Producer : Claire Renaudin / Maison éphémère
Show broadcast : Les Baladins du Miroir
Thanks to Serge Simon
With :
Allan Bertin Henri
Andreas Christou Chambellan, Premier Ministre, Gendarme
Stéphanie Coppe La Reine mère, Première demoiselle d’honneur
Joséphine de Surmont Princesse Henriette
Monique Gelders Dame de compagnie, Bourgmestre, Valet de chambre
Aurélie Goudaer Dame de compagnie, Couturière, Musicienne
François Houart Le Roi nu, Gendarme
Geneviève Knoops Dame de compagnie, Gouvernante, Chroniqueuse
Diego Lopez-Saez Christian
David Matarasso Demoiselle d’honneur, Poète
Virginie Pierre Ministre des tendres sentiments, Demoiselle d’honneur, Bouffon du roi
Line Adam Musicienne
Hugo Adam en alternance avec Gauthier Lisein Musicien
Production / Co-production
A création from Les Baladins du Miroir
In co-production with La Maison Ephémère et L’Atelier Théâtre Jean Vilar
Ask for the file of production with the Financial Terms
